The Transformers: Spotlight
The Transformers: Spotlight, starting in 2006, is an ongoing series of one-shot comics published by IDW Publishing and set in the primary IDW continuity. Each issue focuses on a particular Generation 1 Transformer. The series was originally only to consist of 5 issues, but has since evolved into an annual set of 5 produced per year (at least through 2008).
| Transformers: Spotlight issues: |
|---|
| Shockwave | Nightbeat | Hot Rod | Sixshot | Ultra Magnus Soundwave | Kup | Galvatron | Optimus Prime | Ramjet |
- Scheduled issues: Drift (due April 15, 2009), Cliffjumper (due June, 2009), Metroplex (due July, 2009), Cosmos (due ?)
Overview
The Spotlight series is set within the main IDW storyline. The format allows more free-ranging story settings—many issues are set on alien worlds—and serve to give a wider view of the overall IDW Transformers universe. The issues set up future story ideas and plot points for the main IDW miniseries; many have eventually tied-in directly with the main storyline, with others obviously set to do so in the future.
Most of the issues have prominent co-stars, such as the Dynobots in Shockwave's spotlight, and Omega Supreme in Optimus Prime's story.
There is no absolute chronological order for all of the issues. Some, such as Galvatron and Optimus Prime, are set after specific events in the main story; others like Hot Rod and Nightbeat are not so clearly delineated, having happened an unspecified time ago. Still others (Shockwave, Soundwave) are flashbacks to a specific point in the recent or distant past.
Revelation Saga
The follow-up to Devastation, Revelation was played out through four Spotlights, focusing on Cyclonus, Hardhead, Doubledealer and Sideswipe. This four-parter marked the end of the "-tion" series "for the foreseeable", though Maximum Dinobots takes care of some loose ends.[1]
Creative teams
- Most of the Spotlights has thus far been written by Simon Furman, as will the scheduled Grimlock and Wheelie issues. Exceptions are Spotlight: Kup, written by Nick Roche, Spotlight: Ramjet, written by Stewart Moore and Spotlight: Mirage, written by George Strayton. When Shane McCarthy was brought on for All Hail Megatron, Furman's run seems to be in hiatus, with Spotlight: Blurr, Spotlight: Drift and Spotlight: Cliffjumper being written by Shane McCarthy, and Spotlight: Jazz by Josh van Reyk & Shaun Knowler. The list of artists throughout the series is diverse (please see each issue for credits).
Collections
- The Transformers: Spotlight, Vol. 1 TPB (May 30, 2007) ISBN 978-1600100680
- Collects Shockwave through Ultra Magnus. The spine wields the number 1.
- The Transformers: Spotlight, Vol. 2 TPB (February 20, 2008) ISBN 978-1600101540
- Collects Soundwave through Ramjet. The spine wields the number 2.
- Includes covers art for each issue and bonus art for each issue.
- The Transformers: Spotlight, Vol. 3 TPB (September 29, 2008) ISBN 978-1600102455
- Collects Blaster through Wheelie. The spine wields the number 3.
- The Transformers Spotlight: Revelation TPB (February 4, 2009) ISBN 1600104215
- Collects Cyclonus through Sideswipe. The spine wields the number 4, putting it clearly in the Spotlight series rather than in the "-ation" series.
- Bonus material includes each A and B cover, and sketches of the 4-part image, Cyclonus, Nightbeat, Doubledealer (including a dragon-like alternate mode), Grindcore and Straxus (the last 2 in robot and alt mode).
- Six Spotlight issues were also library bound and available for sale through ABDO Publishing Group and its aptly named subsidiary, Spotlight.
